Rajasthan government places IAS officer and IPS wife on APO list
The officers face an Anti-Corruption Bureau investigation regarding alleged irregularities in property transactions involving 40 villas.
The Rajasthan government on Saturday placed senior IPS officer Prashakha Mathur on the awaiting posting orders list. Mathur, a 1995-batch officer who served as Additional Director General of Police in Jaipur, was moved for administrative reasons, according to a Times Now report.
The action follows similar steps taken on October 28 against her husband, IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal. Agrawal, a 1993-batch officer and former Additional Chief Secretary of Industries, is facing an Anti-Corruption Bureau investigation into alleged property irregularities.
The ACB has received approval under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act to investigate Agrawal and others. ACB Director General Govind Gupta stated that a preliminary inquiry found evidence suggesting Agrawal may have misused his position to provide undue benefits to a private company.
The investigation involves the purchase of villas and cottages in the Udaipur and Alwar districts. The bureau alleges Agrawal and his family bought these properties from a company running hotels and resorts at prices significantly lower than market rates.
The probe will examine if Agrawal facilitated construction relaxations and approvals without verifying certificates. Investigators are also looking into whether 20 villas were registered in Agrawal's name on March 27, the same day a special financial package was granted to the company.
Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has called for a CBI and ED probe, questioning if the state-run ACB can investigate independently. Gehlot alleged the company benefited from decisions made in meetings chaired by the current Chief Minister.